阅读理解It was very late and everyone had left the cafe except an old man who sat in the shadow the leaves of the tree made against the electric light. In the day time the street was dusty,but at night the dew settled the dust and the old man liked to sit late because he was deaf and now at night it was quiet and he felt the difference,The two waiters inside the cafe knew that the old man was a little drunk,and while he was a good client they knew that if he became too drunk he would leave without paying,so they kept watch on him.
"Last week he tried to commit suicide,"one waiter said.
"Why?"
"He was in despair. "
"What about?"
"Nothing. "
"How do you know it was nothing?"
"He has plenty of money. "
They sat together at a table that was close against the wall near the door of the cafe and looked at the terrace(露台)where the tables were ll empty except where the old man sat in the shadow of the leaves of the tree that moved slightly in the wind.
"The guard will pick him up,"one waiter said.
"What does it matter if he gets what he's after?"
"He had better get off the street now. The guard will get him. They went by five minutes ago. "
The old man sitting in the shadow tapped his saucer with his glass. The younger waiter went over to him.
"What do you want?"
The old man looked at him. "Another brandy,"he said.
"You'll be drunk,"the waiter said. The old man looked at him. The waiter went away.
"He'll stay all night,"he said to his colleague. "I'm sleepy now. I never get into bed before three o'clock. He should have killed himself last week. "
The younger waiter took the brandy bottle and marched out to the old man's table.
"You should have killed yourself last week,"he said to the deaf man. The old man motioned with his finger. "A little more,"he said. The waiter poured on into the glass. "Thank you,"the old man said. The waiter took the bottle back inside the cafe. He sat down at the table with his colleague again.
